Annual ploughing festival opens in Ha Nam province

The Tich Dien held to pray for a year of bumper harvests. Photo: zing.vn The festival dates back to 987 during the Tien Le (Early Le) dynasty when King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district to encourage rice cultivation in the locality. The practice then became an annual tradition held through many dynasties before falling into oblivion under the reign of King Khai Dinh of the Nguyen Dynasty. It was restored in 2009. Rituals held within the festival include the procession of a huge drum and King Le Dai Hanh’s ancestral tablet from Long Doi Son pagoda to the foot of the Doi Mountain, where it merges with the processions of the village’s guardian god and the father of Doi Tam drum-making. The joint procession then proceeds to the land where King Le Dai Hanh ploughed to encourage farmers to work diligently. This is followed by a ceremony to pay respect to the God of Agriculture to pray for a high-yield season and prosperity. Particularly, a respected elderly farmer representing the local people assumed the role of King Le Dai Hanh to perform praying to the ancestors and the god of farming. The elderly farmer, who was dressed in a nine-dragon hat and royal robe, then descended to the field to plough. He is followed by a crowd throwing green pea, peanut and rice seeds. Other festive activities are traditional wrestling, drum performances and buffalo decoration. Source: VNA

Many challenges have emerged in the equitisation of State-owned film studios, particularly the Viet Nam Feature Film (VFS) Studio, Culture Minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien said yesterday. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien speaks yesterday with HCM City officials and artists about the future of the local film industry. Speaking with HCM City officials and artists about the future of the local film industry, Thien said he was concerned that local artists, because of limited resources, were struggling to make classic Vietnamese movies, which were once the highlight of the local film industry. “Foreign and commercial movies are…... [read more]

President Nguyen Minh Triet takes part in the 1,000-year-old Spring Ploughing Festival in the northern province of Ha Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang HA NAM — President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the Tich Dien Mua Xuan (Spring Ploughing) Festival, which was first held more than 1,000 years ago, on Saturday in Doi Son Commune, Ha Nam Province. In his festival address, the President said that although Viet Nam was advancing towards industrialisation and modernisation, agriculture still held an important place, as more than 60 percent of the population relies heavily on farming. "The festival reminds us to show deep…... [read more]

Viet Nam News HÀ NAM - President Trần Đại Quang attended the annual Tịch Điền (ploughing) festival yesterday in Đọi Sơn Commune in Hà Nam province, which hopes for a bumper rice harvest in 2017 - the Year of the Rooster. On the occasion, the State leader launched an agricultural mechanisation programme by directly driving a tractor on the field to encourage localities nationwide to promote industrialisation and modernisation of agriculture and rural areas. In his speech, President Quang highlighted the significance of the festival, saying that the annual event has become a tradition in the locality's cultural life and…... [read more]

The Tich Dien (ploughing) festival officially opened on February 6 in Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district in the Red River Delta province of Ha Nam in the presence of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and representatives from many ministries and sectors. This year's festival is taking place in an inspired mood as Ha Nam has reaped remarkable achievements in its 2013 socio-economic development, especially in the movement of new-style rural area building. Three years after implementing the programme, six communes in the province met criteria to become new urban areas. More than 1,700 kilometres of rural road, almost 1,300…... [read more]

President Truong Tan Sang on Jan. 29 launched an order for ploughing the rice field at the beginning of the lunar new year at the annual Tich Dien (ploughing) festival in Doi Son commune, in the Red River delta province of Ha Nam.This year’s Tich Dien-Doi Son festival took place from Jan. 27-29 or from the fifth to the seventh day of the of the lunar new year, hoping for a bumper rice harvest in 2012 – the Year of the Dragon.Addressing the ceremony, President Truong Tan Sang said the festival has become an important ritual of wet rice civilisation…... [read more]